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Luiz demands Europa League glory

3 May 2013 05:25

Chelsea's in-form centre-back David Luiz said his side are hungry to claim the Europa League title after their 3-1 semi-final win over Basel.

Luiz scored in both legs of the final-four match-up with the Swiss champions, and also netted the first strike in their London derby with Fulham in April - making it three goals in his past five matches for Rafael Benitez's men.

They will meet Primeira Liga leaders Benfica - the team Luiz joined Chelsea from in 2011 - in the final in Amsterdam on May 15

And the Brazilian defender said there was no shortage of motivation for last season's Champions League winners to secure more success on the European stage.

"We have one more final to win because I want one more title," he said after the second-leg victory at Stamford Bridge on Thursday.

"I don't just want to reach a final ... it will be a difficult game against a big club, a good team so we need to win that.

"Of course Benfica are a team which everyone knows, they are a team in my heart because they gave me the chance to come to Europe and show my football.

"However, when we start the game I will forget that and I want to win and at the end of the game be the best team on the pitch."

Luiz praised the influence of Chelsea's interim manager Benitez, claiming the Spaniard has imparted plenty of wisdom to improve the defender's game.

"I think Rafa has worked hard with me and all the players individually so I listen to him a lot," Luiz said.

"He is older than me and so you need to listen to him. He has more experience than me and has more titles than me and you need to learn from that.

"He is trying to teach me things about football every day and I love to learn these things.

"He has helped me a lot this season, everyone can see that on the pitch and every day I say thank you to him because he is a fantastic coach."